random amusements

What should I do with my puff pastry?

It has been in the freezer for a few weeks, and although I had plenty of ideas and good intentions when I bought it, I forget now why it hopped into my cart.

Sure, I could look through my cookbooks and find a few recipe ideas, but I've done enough reading lately....

What do YOU think I should make with the puff pastry sheets?




...I'm waiting.....

German Chocolate Cake

I made this for Casey as his "welcome home" treat, after he was out of town for several days. I missed him terribly...and he missed my cooking!!! LOL!

German Chocolate Cake with Coconut Frosting

1 bar (4 oz.) German chocolate
1/2 c. water
1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter, softened (2 sticks)
4 large eggs
2 1/2 c. flour
2 t. baking soda
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1 c. buttermilk
1 t. vanilla

Heat oven to 350˚. Grease and flour a Bundt pan.
(or you can use 2 round cake pans; bake for 35-45 minutes)

Melt chocolate in microwave; stir until smooth.

In large mixing bowl, blend sugars with butter using an electric mixer; beat until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, mixing continuously. Mix in melted chocolate; then add the rest of the ingredients. Pour batter into prepared pan(s).

Bake at 350˚ for 40-50 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cake will begin to pull away from the sides of the pan and look crusty. Allow to cool in pan for 30 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely before frosting.


Gooey Coconut Frosting

1 c. sugar
1 c. evaporated milk
1/2 c. butter (1 stick)
3 eggs, beaten (at room temp)
1 t. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flaked coconut

Mix evaporated milk with sugar and butter in a medium sauce pan; add beaten eggs and cook over medium-low heat until it is thick and bubbly. Remove from heat and stir in coconut and vanilla. Allow to cool, away from stove, for about 30 minutes before frosting cake.



I baked it in my heart-shaped Bundt pan!



Mmmmmm....cake.....

Garden Party

2nd Annual Garden Party/Plant Swap
Saturday the 24th 1:00pm

Okay, I'm trying this again. Last year the weather did not cooperate because of an unusually cold Spring, and I'm hoping it will turn out to be a nicer day this time around. (although rain is predicted! ARG!)

Sometimes people need a little gentle shove to get them active in the yard, and I'm even using this event to inspire myself along with others, because we've basically been hibernating all winter. Visiting with friends and neighbors is something I'm really looking forward to, the sharing of plants is an added bonus.

Casey & I have several landscaping projects in mind, including a vegetable garden which will most likely require the construction of raised beds. This is something that needs to be done, too. I'm tired of "mooching" off of our very generous neighbors without being able to offer something back!

Daffodils blooming in the yard:


Below is the text I used in my email and flyers—feel free to borrow it for your own garden party plan:

I'm planning to have a garden party & plant swap on [date] . The basic premise is to share different types of plants among all the attendees.



What you should bring:


1. Two flats of plants from any of the local garden centers or home stores. If each person does this, there will be a nice variety available in the swap. I will separate them by type (annual, perennial, bulbs, etc.) and then we can divvy them up. You aren't obligated to take one of each—take only what you want.
2. Optional: Bring any plants from your yard that need to be thinned out or divided. You are not required to purchase extra plants—this part is strictly voluntary, for those who have the resources in their yard, and want to do the digging!
   
3. Optional: Extra seeds or seed packets that you'd like to share.
   

If you plan to attend, let me know what you intend to bring, so that we can coordinate colors and not get too many duplicates in the swap. Please let me know if you are not interested, or have other plans.



**Snacks and drinks will be provided, so you only need to bring plants and not food.** 





RSVP: ___________________




One of my favorites, violas, are taking over the front flower beds:


hybrid tulips with multiple flowers on each stem:



I will check back in, probably with photos, and report on how the day goes....but right now I have to go clean up the garage...

Bacon-Cheddar Chicken

This was dinner on another one of my lazy, lonely nights while Casey was out of town...

Bacon-Cheddar Chicken

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
3 slices turkey bacon
some cheddar cheese
dash of: garlic salt, black pepper, onion powder

Microwave the bacon until crispy—about 2 to 3 minutes—on a piece of paper towel. Put another one on top to keep it from splattering. (I saved 2 pieces for breakfast the next day)


Saute the chicken, cut into pieces, in a little dab of olive oil. Add seasonings...it looks like I put a dash of marjoram in there, too...


Put the chicken on a plate and top with cheese and bacon. Sit in front of the tv while you eat, and try not to miss your husband....oops!...having flashbacks, sorry!

Chicken Taco Salad

While Casey was out of town, I got kinda lazy in the kitchen, so one night I just made myself a quick salad...

Chicken Taco Salad

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast
1 T. butter
dash of: garlic salt, cumin, paprika

salad: mixed greens, diced tomatoes, thinly sliced onion, black olives, fat-free sour cream

I just diced up the chicken and cooked it in a frying pan with the butter, then seasoned it until it tasted right and made it into a salad. No real epic culinary experience this time....just making a salad. It tasted soooo good! (I had an avocado, but was too lazy to cut it up for the salad...)

random amusements

Game 3 - Blackhawks VS. Predators

Pekka Rinne voodoo doll...

Rinne needs to feel some added pressure tonight...

Be a shame if that famous "toe save" suddenly became ineffective for some unknown reason...


NOTE:
This is entirely comical with no real or imagined links to actual "voodoo" practices. It is intended only for the purpose of entertainment.


...much like the real Pekka Rinne, he is fabricated from paper towel,
glued together, and stuffed with Kleenex.


But, on the serious side, in the last game, the Chicago Blackhawks shut out the Nashville Predators (2-0) simply by being the better team.

I thought both teams played hard and played well, with Nashville failing to get anything going on the power play. I like the Hawks' PK and think that Colin Fraser in particular is an extremely effective penalty killer. However, the Hawks need to stay out of the box tonight, and not let Nastyville bait them into taking bad penalties.

I'm a little anxious because I know the "Preds" will come out hitting, and if the Hawks can return the favor and hold off the initial onslaught, they can out-skill and out-play Nashville. .....and if not, I'll keep the "voodoo doll" handy!!! LOL!!!!

LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!
LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!
LET'S GO HAWKS!!!!

Chorizo Burgers

I had a taste for chorizo and eggs (no photos, sorry!), and then I didn't know what to do with the second half of the chorizo package. It turned into some FANTASTIC burgers!

Chorizo Burgers

1/2 pkg. (1/2 lb.) chorizo sausage
1 lb. ground turkey
1/2 t. garlic powder
1 egg


Use one section of the chorizo:


Mix ground turkey with some garlic powder and one egg:


I decided to pre-cook the chorizo:


And then added it to the turkey mixture:


Mix well and shape into patties:

Cook until well done, and slightly browned on the surface, if you like it that way (it's good!!!)

The chorizo is spicy, so I served it with some (homemade) cole slaw to cool things down in my mouth in between burger bites. Also, I did not put ketchup directly on the burger, I used it on the side as a dip, in case it didn't go well. Ketchup was a good addition. I think the taco sauce I was considering would have been too much. A side of sour cream for dipping might have been another good idea, but I don't think we had any in the fridge.


burgers topped with:
thinly sliced onion, tomatoes, and Monterrey-Jack cheese:




NOTE: I think these could also be made on the grill, although the meat is a little gushy, so you might have to partially freeze the burgers before grilling, so they don't fall apart.

Cranberry Oat Bread

Cranberry Oat Bread

1 pkg. (1/4 oz.) active dry yeast
1/4 c. warm water
1/4 c. butter, softened (4 T.)
1/4 c. honey
1 c. boiling water
2 eggs
1 c. quick-cooking oats
1 t. salt
3 c. flour
1/2 c. wheat flour
2/3 c. dried cranberries
1/4 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

1. In large mixing bowl, dissolve yeast in 1/4 cup warm water.
2. In another bowl, combine butter, honey, and boiling water. (put the water in a 4-cup measuring cup, then added honey to raise water level to 1 1/4 cup line; then added butter and microwaved it.) Stir well and allow to cool.
3. To yeast mixture, add eggs, oats, salt, butter mixture, and 2 cups of flour; beat on medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in additional flour, nuts, and cranberries to form a soft dough.
   
4. Cover and let rise until doubled in size; about 1 hour.
5. Punch down and transfer to greased casserole dish.
6. Cover and let rise again for 45 minutes.
7. Bake at 375˚ for 35 to 40 minutes, until lightly browned and sounds hollow when tapped on top. Cool at least 10 minutes before removing from casserole dish.

random amusements

New Digital Camera

Casey just bought me a new digital camera, even though my birthday isn't until next month. So far I have taken photos of my flowers, my cat, and the turker-chorizo burgers that I made the other day. I will write up these items in the next few days and post the pictures...

random amusements

(Disney image)

Porkchops

When I was a little kid, there was some book that my mom would read to me, and it was about animals in a forest or something along those lines. I have no idea what the title of the book was, or even the basic story. But, apparently, I enjoyed this book a lot, from what my mom tells me.

So I don't remember this episode, but it is one of my mom's favorite stories about me:
She's reading this book to me, and I point to a porcupine and exclaim, "look, mom, a porkchop!"

Porkchop = porcupine

Flash forward 20 years or so, and I'm dating Casey, who puts gel in his hair to make it kinda spikey on top. I'm sitting with him, playing with his hair, and I say, "your hair is all prickly like a porkchop."

This, of course, makes no sense to him until I tell him the story...

Whenever he goes a day without shaving, I affectionately call him "porkchop face."

And we're still married.

Casey has a great sense of humor, obviously.




here is another cartoon porkchop that I found online; not my original one, but probably a lot closer to it. Isn't he CUTE?!:

(Doug Jones)

Apple-Raisin Kugel

In the recent past, I had made a savory version of kugel; here is the representation of a sweet kugel.

Apple-Raisin Kugel

1 pkg. (8 oz.) egg noodles (about 4 cups cooked)
4 T. (1/2 stick) butter, softened or melted
1 pkg. (8 oz.) cream cheese, softened
3/4 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 T. flour
1/4 c. heavy cream
1 apple, chopped
1 c. raisins
1/2 c. sour cream
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. vanilla
Optional: 1/2 c. chopped walnuts

1. Cook the noodles according to the package directions, and drain. Toss with melted/softened butter; set aside.
2. Beat the cream cheese with sugar until well combined. Add eggs, flour and cream; mix well. Stir in sour cream, apple, raisins, vanilla and cinnamon.
3. Mix noodles into cream cheese mixture; stir well. Pour into greased 9 x 13 baking pan.
4. Bake at 375˚ for about one hour, or until center is set. Serve warm.

NOTE: Before baking, I topped it with some additional cinnamon-sugar:


It turned out delicious!!!

This is similar to a bread pudding concept, only you're using noodles rather than bread. In fact, with some maple syrup on top, this kugel would make a nice breakfast, I think!

Blackberry-Raspberry Tart

I made this tart with my friend Stuart in mind, because he loves berries, especially raspberries!

Blackberry-Raspberry Tart

1 box Jiffy pie crust mix (or your favorite pie crust recipe; single crust)
1 pkg. (16 oz.) frozen blackberries, thawed and drained
1 c. frozen raspberries, thawed and drained
1/2 c. corn starch
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 c. brown sugar

1. Mix crust according to package instructions.
2. Roll out crust and fit into tart pan:

3. Line crust with foil and add pie weights to keep in place:

4. Put tart pan on a cookie sheet. Bake crust at 375˚ for 15 minutes or until lightly colored; remove foil and pie weights.

5. Mix berries with sugars and corn starch, gently pour into baked tart shell.
6. Bake at 375˚ for 45 minutes. Allow to cool before serving, or else it'll be sloppy.






NOTE: The little bity chicken cut-outs were made from scraps of pie crust dough, cut with a little cookie cutter that I've had since I was a kid. My grandma had bought me a children's baking set with a little rolling pin, oven mitt and the cookie cutter...still have the cookie cutter!

Useful Tools: Pie Weights

I recently baked a blackberry-raspberry tart, and needed to pre-bake the crust before adding the berry filling. How do you keep your tart crust from puffing up, you ask? Pie weights!

Useful Tools: Pie Weights

I think I just bought these at Bed, Bath & Beyond...or maybe it was at Kitchen Collection around the holidays...? Not sure now. Anyways, this was my first opportunity to make use of them.

I rolled out my pie crust, and fitted into a tart pan. Then I lined the pan with foil and put the pie weights in. Why the foil, you ask? To make it easier to remove the pie weights after baking, because they will be HOT. Get it?


Whether you use ceramic pie weights (which look like little, white, opaque, uneven marbles) or a stainless steel pie chain, it makes tart and pie shells easier to form. This keeps the dough from getting puffy, or bubbling up and making the bottom of the tart/pie uneven.

Catalogs carry this product, and while it may seem like something you don't really need, sometimes just using foil isn't enough to keep the crust in place in the pie pan. I speak from experience. No, really!

The reason I chose the pie weights is because I also have some mini tart shell pans, which I could divide the pie weights into, had I thought of it when I made these tart shells:




Yeah, I'll have to do that over again, using the pie weights, and taking photos of the finished product, which I also forgot to do in this case! LOL!

IN STORES:
Bed, Bath & Beyond

ONLINE:
Chef's Catalog
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Sur La Table
Williams-Sonoma
The Home Marketplace - pie chain

random amusements

This really is just for my own amusement...I got some cute little dishes at clearance prices from Crate & Barrel...

They'll be nice for dipping, or sides, or something...







Crate & Barrel
Sale > Sale Dining and Entertaining